by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
Historical shows have to be taken with a grain of salt. Since all we can consider from the pre-video days are written accounts, history is all in the eye of the beholder and the interpreters. As a proud history nerd, I love watching shows based on historical events, even if I know some obvious liberties will be taken. The kind that I like to talk about typically portray an event that doesn’t get as much notoriety.
With Manhunt, the bulk of the story concerns the hunt for John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) after he assassinates Abraham Lincoln (Hamish Linklater). On the run, Booth finds help from Confederate sympathizers, while being chased by the federal government, led by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies). All the while, Lincoln’s dream of Reconstruction post-Civil War hangs in the balance as Andrew Johnson (Glenn Morshower) assumes the presidency.
Over the last few years, historical miniseries have been creeping up more and more. With these shows, there is something still engaging about the story, even if you know exactly what happened. Manhunt does a fantastic job of focusing on the characters and building stakes about what bringing Lincoln’s killer to justice would do for the United States and the now-dissolved Confederacy. Yes, a lot of us know that John Wilkes Booth was ultimately found and died, but the appeal of watching Manhunt is talking about all the behind-the-scenes efforts of the federal government to kill the credibility of the Confederacy for good.
In fact, the most compelling part of Manhunt is after Booth’s death when Stanton tries to charge top officials in the Confederacy with a grand conspiracy in order to put the kibosh on another potential uprising from the South. Manhunt unfortunately doesn’t spend enough time on this part of the plot, though — it instead opts to focus more on the action-packed hunt for Booth. However, the trial afterward has Judgement at Nurenburg vibes in the way the characters try to litigate all these people who had the smallest hand in Lincoln’s assassination. The ending is a little anticlimactic because after the judgment, it feels like nothing much happens in the U.S. Since it feels like no real punishment was given to the Confederacy, the show is still relevant today. The schism that is currently going on in American politics echoes that of the U.S. Civil War. I can’t help but think this is a major reason as to why this series was released now, in addition to Manhunt being a fascinating story to adapt.
There are a lot of story components to unpack, but it’s never really overwhelming. I concede there are a lot of characters in Manhunt, but they each have one of two functions within the story: Either they’re helping bring Booth to justice or helping him escape. A large number of characters in Manhunt are part of the investigation, but the great thing about them is they’re complex. Not everyone agreed with everything Lincoln did, but they had a duty to fulfill their obligations of office. On the other side, a number of individuals who helped Booth are people one would never expect to aid in his escape. It goes to show there is a price for everything in this world, particularly if you’re someone who doesn’t come from wealth.
Several performances are powerful in Manhunt, starting with Menzies, who anchors the entire series. Stanton has an incredibly tough job ahead of him that is divided into two parts: bringing justice to Lincoln and preserving his dream of Reconstruction. Menzies does a great job of showcasing the struggle, especially in a new world where he has no idea who he can trust. In addition to Stanton, the detective assisting him with the investigation, Lafayette Baker (Patton Oswalt), is also amazing, as Oswalt sinks his teeth into the role. He chews up the scenery, but not in a way where it feels like he’s being over-comedic. I hope that Hollywood takes notice and gives Oswalt more opportunities in serious roles.
Two performances didn’t work for me. By trade, John Wilkes Booth is an actor, but Boyle plays the role in such an over-the-top way that it sometimes becomes distracting. I do wonder, though, if it was part of the point, since Booth was a theatrical person. Boyle’s best moments in Manhunt are his quieter moments, especially with Booth’s companion during his escape, David Herold (Will Harrison). During their time on the run, we learn about why Booth became radicalized and what ultimately shaped him into the killer he becomes. Boyle just overdoes it too much, especially towards the end.
Unfortunately, Linklater’s Lincoln doesn’t work for me either. He nails the look of Lincoln — the makeup and costume department did an excellent job of giving him the appearance we all know — but his mannerisms and vocal performance just aren’t up to snuff. It doesn’t help that we don’t get a lot of time with Lincoln, but the scenes we do get aren’t enough for me to be on board with the performance.
Manhunt is another feather in the historical drama cap for Apple TV+. The story is engaging and themes still matter today because we’re still facing division within the United States. Several performances are strong, while some buckle under the pressure of what it entails for the story. Overall, Manhunt is a worthy addition to the recent influx of historical miniseries that depicts additional stories to history’s most interesting moments.
Rating: Liked It
Manhunt is currently streaming on Apple TV+
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd